The Haute Route looks to Asheville, North Carolina to welcome a three-day event in North America in 2018.

Each stage of the event will begin and end in the vibrant downtown of Asheville. Asheville is a short riding away from Mount Mitchell, the highest peaks east of the Mississippi River and wind through the scenic beauty of the French Broad River Valley, both featuring stunning panoramas of the Blue Ridge Parkway mountains. The event will conclude with an individual time trial on the final day.

The Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is the best-connected non-hub airport in the United States and is located just 15 miles from downtown Asheville. AVL offers non-stop flights and easy connections from major U.S. hubs. Asheville is also located near several major airports, including Greenville Spartanburg (GSP) and Charlotte Douglas International (CLT).

The Haute Route Asheville experience will also feature on-site amenities at the host hotel, including daily meals, massages, route briefings and a cycle shop—all within 500 feet of the start/finish line.

This event’s unique hub-and-spoke format makes Haute Route Asheville a great weekend getaway for the whole family—no changing hotels or packing your bags between stages. Friends and guests can cheer on riders at each start and spend the days exploring all that Asheville has to offer.

Asheville is an eclectic mountain city with dozens of art galleries, shops and local restaurants within easy walking distance of the event hotel. Explore unexpected music venues featuring up-and-coming acts in the city Expedia just named one of the “12 best music towns in the nation” and raise a glass at one of 30+ craft breweries that put Asheville on the map as Beer City USA. Named the #1 U.S. destination to visit in 2017 by Lonely Planet—and repeatedly named among top bucket-list biking and outdoors spots—spring in the Blue Ridge offers plenty to explore, both on and off the bike.

Experience the Blue Ridge at the inaugural Haute Route Asheville, where many professional-level riders call home.

This newsletter includes rider information, course GPX files, and links to the roadbook, photo gallery and rules and regulations. Learn how your friends and family can get up-to-the-minute information about your Haute Route experience and meet the Lanterne Rouge, Christy Keely.

This newsletter includes links to Stage details, Road Book, and GPX files you can upload to your device. Find out what’s happening in Asheville during your stay, how you can win a pair of custom footbeds from partner Retül and about training plans for your next 3-day event from Wattbike. Read on for more information.

In today’s newsletter we highlight stage one, provide information about rider services from Bike Flights and our partner Mavic, as well as introduce you to Retül. If you’re wondering where to eat in Asheville, we’ve sourced that for you. We also include information about the required medical certificate and a preview of the Haute Route kit. Lastly, we ask you to consider riding with a purpose for one of our designated charity partners; Team Type 1 or World Bicycle Relief. “There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” —John Holmes

The Haute Route’s objective is to deliver an unparalleled 'professional' experience for amateur cyclists. This means not only delivering first class hospitality and event management, but all the key ingredients that make up the culture and experience of professional road racing.